Vietnam ensures it can track who says what on Facebook and TikTok

Teens lose social media access; speech advocates fear dissident voices will go quiet

Vietnamese have less than three months to link their phone numbers or IDs to their social media accounts now that what some see as an anti-dissident decree has taken effect. (Nikkei montage)

LIEN HOANG, Nikkei staff writer

January 8, 2025 11:05 JST

HO CHI MINH CITY -- Vietnam is requiring Facebook, TikTok and other platforms to verify users' phone numbers under a law that activists say will expose dissidents in the one-party state.

Decree 147 also bans teens from social media unless their parents sign up for them, requires networks to give "blue tick" authentication to government agencies, and restricts underage gaming. This last restriction is further tightened when it comes to titles with a gambling element.